Activation Lock
Activation Lock (also called iCloud Lock, not to be confused with MDM) is a step that's triggered during the activation process of an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod, Apple Watch or Mac if the device is still linked to someone's Apple ID (Apple Account). Introduced in iOS 7 with the iPhone 5s, Apple made it as a security layer if a device has been stolen, effectively turning it into an unusable device if you don't remember the original Apple ID used during setup. Even though it may have acted as a good security layer if your iDevice got stolen, it has caused many perfectly-shaped devices to become effectively unusable paperweight.
Apple's Activation Lock is somewhat similar to FRP (Factory Reset Protection) Lock by Google used on Android devices where a Google account is required.
Bypasses
To circumvent Apple's Activation Lock, many methods exist across many devices or software versions. Activation Lock bypasses exist all the way up to iOS 26.1, but iOS 18.7.9, 26.2 or later are not supported.
The most notable tools in the Activation Lock bypass scene are hackt1vator, r1nderpest, bookra1n, iFRPFile and hacktiv8 and BobikA5.
All iPhones below the 3GS predate Activation Lock, therefore they can be hacktivated with Legacy iOS Kit on macOS and Linux.
| Device | hackt1vator | r1nderpest | bookra1n | iFRPFile | BobikA5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 4 | ✔ Supported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 4S | ✔ Supported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✔ Supported |
| iPhone 5 | ✔ Supported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✔ Supported | ✔ Supported |
| iPhone 6 | ✔ Supported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✔ Supported |
| iPhone 6s | ✔ Supported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✔ Supported |
| iPhone 7 | ✔ Supported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 8 | ✔ Supported | Partial | Partial | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone X | ✔ Supported | Partial | Partial | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone Xs/Xs Max | Partial (18.7.9+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 11 | Partial (26.2+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 12 | Partial (26.2+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 13 | Partial (26.2+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 14 | Partial (26.2+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 15 | Partial (26.2+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 16 | Partial (26.2+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |
| iPhone 17 | Partial (26.2+ not supported) | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported | ✘ Unsupported |